Lance Gross says he "jumped at" the opportunity to get back on set with his House of Payne cast when he learned that Tyler Perry was planning to revive the beloved sitcom on BET.
"When I got that call the first thing I probably said was, 'It's about time,'" Gross tell ABC Audio. "But yeah, I immediately made phone calls to the rest of the cast to make sure everybody was in on it. Because we're like a family. And it was such a pleasure to get that call...I think I was probably one of the first people to say, 'Yeah.'"
Of course, with the series beginning production after so many years, Gross said his next focus was making sure he knew what was going on with his character Calvin.
"It was very important that we figure out what was going to happen with Calvin and Miranda because in the finale episode, Miranda walks out and says she wants a divorce," he says. "So I know for me, and I'm sure for her, like every time -- it didn't matter how much work we did outside of Tyler Perry's umbrella -- the fans always question, 'Well, what would have happened? Y'all left us on a cliffhanger. What's going to happen with Calvin and Miranda?'"
"That was something that was definitely important to touch on," Gross continues. "And we definitely did."
In addition to answering some important questions about his character's relationship with his wife, played by Keshia Knight Pulliam, Gross says the fans can also expect "a lot of drama."
"But Tyler does a good job of pulling the comedy out of the drama," he adds. "So that's what Calvin will be dealing with this season."
Tyler Perry's House of Payne, also starring China Anne McClain, airs 8 p.m. ET on BET.
By Candice Williams
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